Jewelry catch

ABSTRACT

A jewelry catch of arcuate type made entirely from stampings from precious metal sheet stock. Relying upon the natural resiliency of the stock material, no spring is required to maintain the device in closed condition, whereby the entire device may consist of two relatively moveable parts. A first part includes a hollow arcuate tube, the free ends of which define an interstice therebetween. Each end is provided with a manually engageable projection. A second part is of solid arcuate configuration, and is slidably disposed within the first part. The second part includes a loop member secured to one surface thereof which projects outwardly of the main body portion thereof and is located in the above mentioned interstice, so that the second part may be moved within the first part by squeezing the loop member and one of the projecting tabs. Means is provided for wedging the second element with respect to the first element when the device is in closed condition to prevent loss of an engaged end of a string or chain.

EJnited States Patent Shteinshieiier Sept. 11, 19173 JEWELRY CATCH [76] Inventor: Boris Shteinshleifer, 40 Elizabeth St., [57] ABSTRACT New York 10012 A jewelry catch of arcuate type made entirely from [22] Filed: Jan. 5, 1972 stampings from precious metal sheet stock. Relying upon the natural resiliency of the stock material, no 1 Appl' 215580 spring is required to maintain the device in closed condition, whereby the entire device may consist of two [52] US. Cl. 24/238, 24/240 relatively moveable parts. A first part includes a hollow [5 l int. Cl A44b 19/00 arcuate tube, the free ends of which define an interstice [58] Field of Search 24/238, 240, 241 SL, therebetween. Each end is provided with a manually 24/241 SP, 241 S; 70/459 engageable projection. A second part is of solid arcuate configuration, and is slidably disposed within the first [56] References'Cited part. The second part includes a loop member secured UNITED STATES p ATENTS to one surface thereof which projects outwardly of the main body portion thereof and is located in the above 3 mentioned interstice, so that the second part may be 1/192] GOOZey moved within the first part by squeezing the loop mem- |:052:802 19 3 Dean I I t I 70 459 ber and one of the projecting tabs. Means is provided 2,604,775 7/1952 Le Blanc 24/238 for wedging the second element with respect to the first Primary Examiner-Francis K. Zugel Assistant Examiner-Darrell Marquette Att0rneyCharles E. Temko element when the device is in closed condition to prevent loss of an engaged end of a string or chain.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures JEWELRY CATCH This invention relates generally to the field of jewelry findings, and more particularly to an improved jewelry catch of a type used for interconnecting the free ends of a pendant chain or necklace. Devices of this general type of known in the art, and the invention lies in specific constructional details, permitting lower cost of manufacture and increased facility in operation.

Catches of the above type have traditionally been made as stampings from precious metal stock. While the base material is relatively costly, the amount of such material required to form an individual catch is sufficiently small that the total cost of the device is relatively low. However, the cost of labor has continuously risen, so that the total cost of manufacture has been relatively high.

The traditional type of catch which employs concentrically disposed inner and outer catch members normally relies upon a coil spring to urge the parts to relatively closed condition, and with continued use and age, the spring loses its resiliency, often resulting in loss of the article of jewelry which it maintains in position. This construction also suffers from a further disadvantage in that when in the opened condition, the parts must be manually maintained against the action of this spring while inserting or removing the end of a chain or string. When it is appreciated that, in the case of a necklace, this must be done without physically viewing the catch, the difficulty of manipulation will be readily appreciated.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved jewelry catch of the type described, in which the above mentioned disadvantages have been substantially eliminated.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved jewelry catch in which the spring member normally interconnecting the two relatively moveable parts has been eliminated, thereby facilitating operation, and lowering the cost'of manufacture.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved jewelry catch construction in which the two relatively moveable parts are maintained in closed condition by the resiliency of the material from the device is made.

These objects, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims. p

In' the drawing, to which reference'will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view in perspective of an embodiment of the invention. 1

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment, showing the same in closed condition.

FIG. 3 is a central sectional viewthereof.

FIG. 4 is a central sectional view, corresponding to that seen in FIG. 3, but showing an alternate form of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view in elevation showing one stage in the manufacture of one of the elements comprising the de- The first element 11 is preferably formed as a progressive die. operation from planar feed stock. When the device is formed of gold, the sheet stock may be as little as 0.010 inches thick. As seen in FIG. 5, when severed from the sheet stock the element is in the form of a planar blank 15 bounded by longitudinal edges 16 and 17, end edges 18 and 19, an outer surface 20 and an inner surface 21 (see FIG. 1). First and second finger engaging tabs 22 and 23, respectively, are struck out from the plane of the blank adjacent corresponding free edges 24 and 25.

Referring to FIG. 1, prior to assembly, the element 1 1 is shaped to curvilinear configuration to include longitudinally curved first and second side portions of planar configuration, and a medially disposed arcuate portion 28 interconnecting the same. The portions 26-28 define an opening for reception of the second element 12, following which the portions 26 and 27 are inwardly curved to retain the second element in position. As the details of thisassembly and forming operation are known in the art, they need not be further consid ered herein.

The second catch element 12 is also formed as a stamping from somewhat heavier material, preferably 0.020 thick stock. The element includes an arcuately shaped main body 33 mounting an outwardly extending loop member 34 and a projection 35. The main body 33 is of rectangular cross section, and is bounded by side surfaces 38 and 39, an inner surface 40 and an outer surface 41, the above mentioned surfaces defining edges edges 42 facilitating sliding contact of the same width the first element 11. The loop member 34 is provided with a centrally disposed opening 43 permitting permanent engagement with one end of a piece of jewelry (not shown), the opposite end being engaged by the element 11. The projection 35 is of rounded configuration, so as to permit the same to cam itself into engaged condition within a hollow area 46 disposed beneath the tab 22, the natural resiliency of the material from which the device is made causing the projection to be retained until intentional disengagement is desired.

As has been mentioned, the coil spring normally incorporated into devices of this type is completely eliminated, and retention of the device in closed condition is accomplished solely by the engagement of the projection 35 within the area 46. Thus, to open the device the loop 34 and the tab 23 are pinched causing relative rotation between the first and second elements 11 and 12 until the interstice in the second element coincides with that in the first element. In this condition, the free end of the article of jewelry may be engaged or disengaged. To, close the device, the opposite side of the loop 34 is pinched with the tab 22, resulting in relative movement between the elements 11 and 12 in opposite direction, the movement continuing until the projection 35 flexes the edge 25 and engages the area 46.

Turning now to the alternate form of the invention, generally indicated by reference character 50, and illustrated in FIG. 4, this form difi'ers from the principal form in that the loop 51 is connected to the firstelegous to the engagement of the projection 35 within the area 46.

Since the fixed end of the jewelry chain is secured to the loop member 34, when the device is worn tension caused by any stress above the normal weight of the article of jewelry is transmitted in a direction perpendicular to the principal curved axis of the first and second elements, so that there is no tendency to disengage the wedging action which holds the parts in closed condition.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. An improved jewelry catch device including a first outer catch element and a second inner catch element; said first catch element comprising an arcuately-shaped hollow tube defining first and second end openings, and including first and second oppositely facing manually engageable tabs extending outwardly from an outer surface thereof adjacent said end openings, and having free edges bordering said end openings, at least one of said tabs defining a hollow area therebeneath; said second catch element including an arcuately-shaped main body portion having end surfaces defining an interstice therebetween and having an outer peripheral surface and a manually engageable loop member mounted upon said last mentioned surface; said second catch element being disposed within said first catch element with said loop member positioned between said first and second tabs; and means on said outer peripheral surface adjacent one side of said loop member forming a locking action between said first and second elements when said device is in closed condition by resiliently flexing a free edge of one of said tabs.

2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said last mentioned means includes a projection on said outer peripheral surface engageable within said hollow area beneath said one of said tabs. 

1. An improved jewelry catch device including a first outer catch element and a second inner catch element; said first catch element comprising an arcuately-shaped hollow tube defining first and second end openings, and including first and second oppositely facing manually engageable tabs extending outwardly from an outer surface thereof adjacent said end openings, and having free edges bordering said end openings, at least one of said tabs defining a hollow area therebeneath; said second catch element including an arcuately-shaped main body portion having end surfaces defining an interstice therebetween and having an outer peripheral surface and a manually engageable loop member mounted upon said last mentioned surface; said second catch element being disposed within said first catch element with said loop member positioned between said first and second tabs; and means on said outer peripheral surface adjacent one side of said loop member forming a locking action between said first and second elements when said device is in closed condition by resiliently flexing a free edge of one of said tabs.
 2. Structure in accordance with claim 1, in which said last mentioned means includes a projection on said outer peripheral surface engageable within said hollow area beneath said one of said tabs. 